The Darkest Place

We've all been there. The dark place. Perhaps the darkest place. It's the place where we feel the depth of anger. Sadness. Maybe we've lost sight of our identities--which, to me, is the scariest place of all.

Maybe sometimes we have to fall into the pit. Scratch that. We probably didn't FALL in. It was probably a slippery slope. But regardless, we know the pit. We know the depth. We recognize this place. We've been here before. So, where do you go from here? Where do I go from here? How do i get out? I don't know what the pit is like in your life. Maybe it's a poor decision. Maybe it's depression that feels like a prison. Maybe it's an injustice done to you. Whatever it is---you know the pit when you're in it. And you usually don't see it before it's too late.

This is what i've come up with....

How to Get Out of a Pit:

1. reach out. Look for supportive family and friends. Look for what i call the "safe" people in your life.

2. take care of you. Even when you don't want to. Even when you don't KNOW with everything in you that you are, indeed, worth it. Self-soothing/nurturing behaviors. Remind yourself of who you are. Perhaps journal.

3. keep going. When it's dark. When it's scary. When it's painful. Keep walking. Accept where you are but recognize where you want to ultimately be.

4. surrender. Finally, surrender. It's the simplest thing in the world and yet, one of the hardest things to do---to come to the end of myself and realize that i can't do it on my own anymore. Remember the One who is there. The constant in the storm. The One you tried to walk away from.

So. That's what i'm working with this morning. Trying to nurture myself. Give myself what i need. One foot in front of the other. Going to try journaling today. Perhaps a yoga class. Maybe i'll try surrender on for size today. Practice coming to the end of myself.....to make room for God to work in my life.

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, our of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. Psalm 40:2.